Electrification apparatus for electric dust collection and control method therefor

Abstract

An electrification apparatus perform a method for electric dust collection. The electrification apparatus includes a frame, a conductive microfiber, a conductive plate, and a ground connector disposed between the conductive microfiber and the conductive plate. The ground connector is configured to be insulated based on a high voltage being applied to the conductive microfiber and to be connected to a ground electrode based on the high voltage being blocked to the conductive microfiber.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrification apparatus for electric dust collection, the electrification apparatus comprising:
 a frame; 
 a conductive microfiber disposed at the frame and configured to discharge an electric charge to air to thereby generate ions in the air; 
 conductive plates that surround the conductive microfiber, that are connected to a ground electrode, and that are configured to generate a potential difference with the conductive microfiber; 
 a ground connector that is disposed between the conductive microfiber and one of the conductive plates and that is configured to selectively connect to the ground electrode; 
 a voltage generator configured to generate a voltage corresponding to the electric charge and to supply the voltage to the conductive microfiber; and 
 a plurality of switches connected to at least one of the voltage generator or the ground electrode, 
 wherein the plurality of switches comprise:
 a first switch connected to the voltage generator, and 
 a second switch, a third switch, and a fourth switch that are connected to the ground electrode, and 
 
 wherein the conductive microfiber is configured to:
 discharge the electric charge to the air based on the first and third switches being turned on and the second and fourth switches being turned off, and 
 stop discharging the electric charge to the air based on the first and second switches being turned off and the third and fourth switches being turned on. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first switch is configured to, based on being turned on, connect the voltage generator to the conductive microfiber, and
 wherein the second switch is configured to, based on being turned on, connect the ground electrode to the conductive microfiber. 
 
     
     
       3. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the third switch is configured to, based on being turned on, connect the ground electrode to one of the conductive plates, and
 wherein the fourth switch is configured to, based on being turned on, connect the ground electrode to the ground connector. 
 
     
     
       4. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller connected to the plurality of switches and configured to control operation of the plurality of switches. 
     
     
       5. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein one of the plurality of switches is located between the controller and the voltage generator, and two or more switches among the plurality of switches are located between the controller and the ground electrode. 
     
     
       6. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the first switch is located between the controller and the voltage generator and configured to selectively connect the voltage generator to the conductive microfiber, and 
 wherein the second switch, the third switch, and the fourth switch are each located between the controller and the ground electrode and that are configured to selectively connect to the ground electrode. 
 
     
     
       7. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 turn on the first and third switches and turn off the second and fourth switches to enable the conductive microfiber to discharge the electric charge to the air; and 
 turn off the first and second switches and turn on the third and fourth switches to stop discharging the electric charge to the air through the conductive microfiber. 
 
     
     
       8. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 turn on the first switch to connect the voltage generator to the conductive microfiber; and 
 turn on the second switch to connect the ground electrode to the conductive microfiber. 
 
     
     
       9. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 turn on the third switch to connect the ground electrode to one of the conductive plates; and 
 turn on the fourth switch to connect the ground electrode to the ground connector. 
 
     
     
       10. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the ground connector comprises a ground ring that is located on a surface of the frame and that surrounds the conductive microfiber, and
 wherein the ground ring is configured to connect to the ground electrode based on the fourth switch being turned on. 
 
     
     
       11. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the ground connector comprises a ground sheet that is located below the frame and that defines a part of an electrification space surrounding the conductive microfiber, and
 wherein the ground sheet is configured to connect to the ground electrode based on the fourth switch being turned on. 
 
     
     
       12. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the ground connector comprises a ground coil that is wound around and extends along a portion of the frame, and
 wherein the ground coil is configured to connect to the ground electrode based on the fourth switch being turned on. 
 
     
     
       13. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect dust particles in the air, and
 wherein the controller is configured to:
 determine a particle removal rate based on a change of a number of the dust particles detected by the sensor, and 
 control operation of the plurality of switches based on the particle removal rate. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to, based on the particle removal rate being less than or equal to a predetermined value, turn on two switches among the plurality of switches to discharge the electric charge to the air through the conductive microfiber. 
     
     
       15. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the frame comprises:
 a main body frame that supports the conductive plates; and 
 an installation frame that extends from the main body frame, that supports the conductive microfiber, and that is connected to the ground connector, the installation frame being made of a non-conductive material. 
 
     
     
       16. The electrification apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect whether the installation frame becomes electrified and carries an electric current,
 wherein the controller is configured to, based on the electric current exceeding a predetermined level, turn on two switches among the plurality of switches to discharge the electric charge to the air through the conductive microfiber.